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Vacation Camps

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Summer Dicovery Camps

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Drones & Robots Camps

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Vacation Destination

Nature-based science fun with Fairbanks educators

Vacation Camps

February 23-27

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

All camps take place at the Fairbanks Museum. Limited extended day options are available until 3:00 PM.

  • $225/child
  • $150/child extended day (until 3:00 PM)
  • 20% discount for Fairbanks Musuem members

Animal Architecture (ages 4-6) 

Learn about all the ways animals make homes and why. We’ll build snowy structures (weather permitting) and explore the Museum’s galleries to discover different animal homes. We can’t wait to dive into story time, games, and crafts with your camper and share this wonderful learning experience together!

STEAM-Empowered Scientists (ages 8-12) 

We hope to foster a more inclusive and diverse future, by encouraging and empowering groups that are underrepresented in STEM fields. This week of camp, for girls and gender-expansive, non-binary, intersex, and transgender youth, will explore different STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math) topics each day! STEAM-powered Saturdays is a partnership with White Mountain Science, Inc.

Apocalypse Now! (ages 7-11) FULL

In this exciting camp, students will dive into the wild world of natural events that could spark an apocalypse. Each day brings a brand-new doomsday scenario, complete with hands-on challenges, creative activities, and engaging discussions. Campers will investigate how these extreme events happen, explore real methods scientists use to predict and prepare for them, and even design their own survival strategies. Along the way, we’ll uncover stories from Earth’s ancient past and discover how these powerful forces still shape our world today. By the end of the week, students will have a deeper understanding of our planet and the living things that call it home.
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Vacation Camps

April 20-24

9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

All camps take place at the Fairbanks Museum.

  • $225/child
  • 20% discount for Fairbanks Musuem members

Science Snippets! (ages 4-6)

This week of camp has a little bit of everything! We will engage our senses and use experiments to learn about space, sound, forest science, chemistry, and the atmosphere. We will spend time in the planetarium, talk to meteorologists, create musical instruments, read stories, do crafts, play games, and have fun while getting to know the world around us!

Crazy Contraptions (ages 6-8)

Crazy Contraptions (ages 9-12) 1PM-4PM

Zach Umperovitch, is back by popular demand! Zach is the leading authority on Rube Goldberg machines, working with everyday objects to build contraptions that accomplish a simple task in many steps, adding humor along the way. Campers will get to create their own multi-step machine, using fun and silly ways to rethink how to get things do
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Summer Discovery Camps

week-long programs, June – Aug
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

All camps take place at the Fairbanks Museum. Limited extended day options are available until 3:00 PM.

  • $250/child
  • $150/child extended day (until 3:00 PM)
  • 20% Fairbanks Museum member discount

Discovery Themes

Northern Forests Revealed

Explore the conditions and characteristics that make a temperate forest! We will discover what sets these forests apart from other ecosystems, learning about the variety of animals and plants that call it home, along with the seasons and weather it experiences.

Rooted in Adventure Camp

Let’s investigate the diversity of moss, fungi, wildflowers, and trees that grow in northern forests! Our days will be full of crafts, storytime, and hands-on activities all about plants found in Vermont. We can’t wait to grow with you!

Woodland Wildlife

Get ready for some wild summer adventures! Whooooooo lives in these woods? We will explore the amazing animals of the northern forests through engaging games, fun art projects, and stories that focus on these creatures.

Each theme is repeated to welcome more campers. Campers should register for a theme only once.

4-5 years olds

Woodland Wildlife: June 15-19 or June 22-26
Rooted in Adventure:  July 6-10 or July 13-17
Northern Forests Revealed: July 27-31 or August 3-7

6-7 year olds

Northern Forests Revealed: June 15-19 or June 22-26
Woodland Wildlife: July 6-10 or July 13-17
Rooted in Adventure: July 27-31 or August 3-7

Please register one child at a time. Registration is complete and your place is reserved when payment has been received.

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Drones and Robots

9:00 AM – 3:00 PM

Camps take place in the Fairbanks Museum’s STEM Lab.

  • $350/child
  • 20% Fairbanks Museum member discount

Drones (ages 8-12)

July 6-10 or July 13-17

From yesterday’s science fiction to today’s science facts, we live in a world where drones are already a part of people’s everyday lives. During this week of camp, each child will also get to construct and fly their very own drone! You don’t need any experience with coding to join.

Robots (ages 8-12)

July 27-31 or August 3-7

If you could make your own robot, what would you want it to do? Come find out what you can make with some imagination and the skills you’ll learn with us! You don’t need any experience with coding to join, but we will be learning some of the languages used every day by robots and computers. Each camper will also get to construct a real, re-programmable robot that they will get to take home with them at the end of the week!

Advanced Drones & Robots (ages 10-14, returning campers only)

June 22-26

In this action-packed week exploring both drones and robots, campers will dive deeper into building and programming their own creations… from scratch. Please note this camp week is only for those who have completed our Drones and Robots camp in previous years.

Sign up for DRONES & ROBOTS CAMPS

Franklin’s Guides

Ages 12-16

The Fairbanks Museum & Planetarium is looking for engaged, mature students who are ready for the responsibilities of interacting with the public in a natural history museum setting. This program is designed to give students a chance to learn what it’s like to be a docent. If you enjoy science, history, animals, astronomy, and more, Franklin’s Guides is the right program for you.

Our Guides will spend time in the museum, planetarium, Build It Lab, and native butterfly house. They will greet visitors, interpret exhibits, educate, and assist with programs. June 29-July 3 will be an orientation week, where all guides will be trained on the different locations where they will be stationed throughout the summer.

Students are expected to commit to a Monday- Friday weekly schedule, with their days starting at 10AM and ending at 4PM. Upon completion of all 6 weeks, Franklin’s guides will receive a stipend of $300. We will conclude our summer fun with an overnight at the museum on August 8.

Please email Karina Weiss to inquire about this program and request an application. Applications must be completed and submitted by Sunday, May 24, at 5:00 PM.